WEST CHICAGO, Ill. (August 2018) — PanAmerican Seed announces further broadcasting of its TV segment produced by DMG Productions (Jupiter, FL) for the highly acclaimed TV series American Farmer, a breakthrough program that showcases the latest advancements in agriculture and farming. The show will air Tuesday, Aug. 28, at 8:30 am EDT on RFD-TV. Check local listings for specific dates and times.

As a breeder and producer of F1 and open-pollinated flower and vegetable seed, PanAmerican Seed markets its products to both wholesale and retail distributors around the globe. The company says they continually strives to solve grower production and sales issues with high-quality products whose benefits are carried all the way to the consumer level.

American Farmer viewers get a behind-the-scenes look at PanAmerican Seed, gaining insight about the research involved to introduce new products and ensure they meet the demands of the market. The segment also sheds light in what makes PanAmerican Seed a leading breeder.

“PanAmerican Seed is excited to share our story and the groundbreaking efforts made to breed and produce our flower and vegetable seeds,” says Claire Josephson, PanAmerican Seed marketing manager. “The debut of our segment on American Farmer, and their subsequent rebroadcasts this year, will shine light on our HandPicked Vegetables to further educate fresh market and hobby farmers.”

Valent BioSciences unveils new Biorational Research Center

LIBERTYVILLE, Ill. — (BUSINESS WIRE) — Valent BioSciences (VBC) officially opened the doors of its new global research facility, the Biorational Research Center (BRC), at a July 24 gala at Libertyville’s stylish Innovation Park. More than 250 guests, ranging from the deputy governor of Illinois, to strategic partners, customers, allied industry representatives and leading members of the scientific community gathered to join grand opening festivities and tour the 85,000 square-foot facility adjacent to the company’s longtime headquarters.

The opening of the BRC completes a two-year build-out and transition from VBC’s legacy research facility in nearby Long Grove, Illinois. The facility boasts approximately 65,000 square-feet of open-concept lab and office space combined with a state-of-the-art, 20,000 square-foot greenhouse. In addition to its technological upgrades, the move is intended to streamline cross-functional collaboration among VBC’s industry-leading team of innovative plant, soil and formulation scientists, microbiologists, entomologists and chemists — a team that brings best-in-class solutions to agriculture, public health, and forest health professionals around the world, according to the release.

“This breathtaking new facility is a testimony to the notable success of our R&D group,” said Ted Melnik, executive vice president and chief operating officer of VBC. “All patents and awards aside, that success ultimately comes down to an ability to develop and commercialize sustainable products that deliver clear value to our stakeholders – whether they be growers, food companies, foresters, or governments that fight against insect-borne disease.”

The BRC is the latest addition to the Sumitomo Chemical Company (SCC) Biorational Research Network (BRN), a strategic enterprise that includes both internal resources and external (3rd party) expertise. As the parent company to VBC, SCC deploys a global team of scientists operating in lab and field research facilities at key locations around the globe. Central to the BRN mission are investigations that bring together biorational and conventional technologies that work in harmony with nature.

The opening of the BRC is another in a string of investments VBC has made into its burgeoning biorational business over recent years. In addition to the acquisition of Pace International (2012) and Mycorrhizal Applications (2015), VBC also opened its Iowa-based $150 million biorational manufacturing plant in 2014, the first-ever purpose-built biorational facility in the world.

SAN JOSE, Calif.—July 28, 2018:Crop Enhancement Inc., which describes itself as an innovator of sustainable agrochemical products for enhancing crop yields, has appointed Marcus Meadows-Smith to its board of directors. As a proven, successful, and recognized executive of the agrochemical industry, Meadows-Smith will assist the management team with the development of business models and go-to-market strategies that position Crop Enhancement for success as it reaches a key inflection point: commercialization of its technology.

Meadows-Smith is currently CEO of BioConsortia Inc., a discoverer of microbial crop protection and enhancement products. Prior to that, he turned around the biopesticide business AgraQuest Inc. over a four-year timeframe, culminating in that company being acquired by Bayer CropScience for over $400 million. Following Bayer’s acquisition of AgraQuest, he became head of biologics for Bayer CropScience. Previously, Meadows-Smith had a 14-year career at Chemtura Corporation, assuming multiple managerial roles and ultimately becoming EVP for a $2 billion portfolio of businesses that included crop protection, consumer products, and plastics additives.

Crop Enhancement’s market momentum is growing as the company gears up to launch its first crop protection product, CropCoat. Successful field trials with cacao growers and food value chain partners demonstrated double-digit yield increases, confirming that Crop Enhancement’s approach gives growers a powerful new tool to address the demands of consumers who want sustainably produced foods.

The CropCoat product achieves this through several effective modes of action (MOAs) that growers can deploy for sustainable integrated pest management (IPM), according to the company. Beyond yield and profit increase, CropCoat can deliver to growers the added benefits of no regulated residue (no minimum residual levels, or MRLs), pest resistance management, fewer spray applications and lower costs, the company says.

Field trials with coffee growers are also underway in Central and South America, and the program is being expanded to high-value specialty crops including fruits and vegetables in the United States.

“Crop Enhancement has achieved the two most telling milestones for the success of a startup in agriculture — indeed for any product or company in agriculture— by generating great field trials results, as well as excitement for product adoption by key partners and major players in the food value chain,” said Marcus Meadows-Smith, board director of Crop Enhancement. “Crop Enhancement is well positioned to gain registrations, identify partners who can deliver rapid growth and then collaborate with them to maximize crop yield.”

“I am delighted to welcome Marcus Meadows-Smith to our board of directors after he advised the company for the past year. Marcus brings a wealth of commercialization and value creation expertise to the team,” said Kevin Chen, Ph.D., CEO of Crop Enhancement. “We are now driving towards product registrations in different geographies, starting with Indonesia, and seeking distribution partners. Marcus’ extensive experience in this process will help us immeasurably.”

Crop Enhancement’s products target major fruit and vegetable crops worldwide across regions that include North America, Southeast Asia, Greater China, Latin America and Africa. To boost crop yields in these regions, Crop Enhancement has developed proprietary films and formulations that modify plant surfaces (leaves, stems, fruit and seeds) to improve their resistance to pests and diseases, and decrease the need for harmful pesticides. Crop Enhancement’s formulations can also be applied with agricultural inputs like nutrients, fertilizers and other active ingredients, enabling farmers to reduce costs and increase crop yields.

2018 Farwest Show announces more speakers

PORTLAND, Oreg. (July 31, 2018) — At the 2018 Farwest Show, seminar speakers and industry experts will discuss a wide range of topics that include marketing, technology, growing and much more.

Dr. Allan Armitage and Leslie Halleck will speak on different topics, including marketing, current and new plants, indoor gardening and women in the workforce.

Armitage will deliver two presentations. In his first address, “Who Put Those Naked Ladies in My Garden?” held Wednesday, Aug. 22, 8:30–9:30 a.m. in Room B114, Armitage will look at a lighter side of plant marketing using stories about plants as means to better connect with staff and consumers. His second talk, “Do We Need More ‘New’ Perennials When We Are Just Getting Used to the ‘Old’ Ones?” will take place on Wednesday, Aug. 22, 1:30–2:30 p.m. in Room B114. It will highlight trends in the marketplace with current plants and new breeding to come.

Armitage, professor emeritus of horticulture at the University of Georgia, is in demand as a speaker nationally and internationally. A master plantsman and industry advocate, his 16 books, on-line courses and industry app are education standards for horticulture.

Halleck will also speak twice. Her first talk, “Indoor Gardening: Gardening and Plantscaping Under Lights,” will be Thursday, Aug. 23 from 9:45–10:45 a.m. in Room B110, and will highlight her new book on the same subject. Indoor gardening is a growing market segment that needs more accessibility for gardeners, enthusiasts, and professionals. Halleck will share insights on how to deliver education in relevant ways. In a second presentation, “Women in Horticulture: Maximize Your Power as a Woman in the Workforce,” held Thursday, Aug. 23 from 2:30–3:30 p.m. in Room B110, Halleck will offer inspiration and tips on how to navigate the industry as a woman in horticulture.

Halleck, owner of Halleck Horticultural LLC, is a Certified Professional Horticulturist, consultant and award-winning writer with a 25-year-plus career hybridizing horticulture science with home gardening consumer needs. She is also a regular columnist for Greenhouse Management and Garden Center magazines. Her new book “Gardening Under Lights: The Complete Guide for Indoor Growers,” from Timber Press, is available now.

Pest control for the greenhouse professional

Kelly Vance and Robin Rosetta will discuss facets of pest control for the greenhouse professional. Vance will share his expertise on the biological control of broad, russet and cyclamen mites. Rosetta will explore how new spray technology can reduce pesticide use without sacrificing results.

Vance’s talk, “Not All Mites Are Spider Mites: Bio Control of Broad, Russet and Cyclamen Mites,” will be held on Wednesday, Aug. 22 from 8:30–9:30 a.m. in Room B119. He will look beyond spider mites to identify potential damage from other “micro-mites” before they are ever detected. His session will cover the basic biology of mites that threaten crops in the Pacific Northwest. He’ll also cover inspection and quarantine of incoming plant material, scouting crops for early warning signs and biological control programs focusing on prevention. Vance’s presentation will be eligible for pesticide credit. Registration is required.

Vance has been an integrated pest management (IPM) specialist with Beneficial Insectary since 2016. He has spent years using IPM techniques to protect annuals, perennials and tropical houseplants in the production environment in Central Florida and in Oregon. During years in the greenhouse, he developed large-scale biological pest control programs for a variety of crops and structures. At Beneficial Insectary, he helps growers establish and maintain programs targeting the key pests that threaten their plants’ health.

Rosetta’s address, “The Aim Game: Intelligent Spray System Technology for Nurseries,” will be on Thursday, Aug. 23 from 9:45–10:45 a.m. in Room B119. She will showcase advanced technology that can reduce the volume of pesticides by more than 50 percent while achieving the same level of control. Affordable intelligent spray systems increase precision and accuracy when pesticides are applied to control insects and diseases. Rosetta will also cover spray systems technology under development that will likely change the way pesticides are applied in the future.

Rosetta is an associate professor with Oregon State University Extension. She has been a principal investigator on intelligent spray systems research since 2010. She has worked for 24 years as a regional extension educator for nursery and greenhouse IPM for OSU. She is editor of the Pacific Northwest Nursery IPM website and has a long history working with growers on pest identification, biological control, mating disruption and invasive species.

Kelly Vance and Robin Rosetta will discuss facets of pest control for the greenhouse professional. Vance will share his expertise on the biological control of broad, russet and cyclamen mites. Rosetta will explore how new spray technology can reduce pesticide use without sacrificing results.

Woody plant breeding and boxwood blight

Dr. Ryan Contreras of Oregon State University (OSU), and Jill Calabro of AmericanHort/Horticultural Research Institute (HRI), will deliver talks of interest to nursery growers, sharing insights on new breeding for woody plants and developments in the crisis of boxwood blight.

Dr. Contreras’ seminar, “Moving, Shaking and Remaking: Plant Breeding at Oregon State,” will be Friday, Aug. 24 from 8:30–9:30 a.m. in Room B110. It will look at new developments in woody plant breeding at OSU. Discussion will include potentially sterile maples, azalea hybrids, Deutzia selections, seedless and high impact althea, edible shrubs and more. He’ll share a scientific approach to developing new shrubs and trees that are beautiful, durable and efficient in production.

Dr. Contreras is an associate professor of ornamental plant breeding in the Department of Horticulture at OSU. His breeding program mainly focuses on plants of economic importance to the Oregon nursery and landscape industries. His teaching of plant identification, plant growth and development, and plant propagation is used to support and inform the breeding program.

Calabro’s seminar, “What You Need to Know About Boxwood Blight,” will be Friday, Aug. 24, 8:30–9:30 a.m., Room B119. It will address one of the most serious challenges facing the nursery industry today. She’ll share the latest research results and efforts underway on the subject at HRI.

In her position as science and research programs director, Calabro manages the science related work of

AmericanHort and HRI, including HRI’s annual grants program. She also promotes HRI-supported research results and engages in regulatory advocacy to help ensure success of the green industry.

Botany Lane Greenhouse welcomes new purchasing manager

Botany Lane Greenhouse is expanding its operations with young plants for growers and finished product for retail garden centers. The greenhouse has welcomed Bruce Gregory as its new purchasing manager.

Gregory's appointment comes with the retirement of John McNitt, who served the position for the past three years.

Gregory previously worked in purchasing with Smith Gardens and Skagit Gardens, bringing previous experience in the horticulture industry to the position.

“We are thrilled to have Bruce as part of the team at Botany Lane Greenhouse and look forward to a great contribution from him in the future," says Scott Fulton, general manager of Botany Lane Greenhouse.

Botany Lane Greenhouse just had its first-ever appearance at Cultivate'18 in Columbus, Ohio, showcasing young plants, mixed liner trays of succulents and finished products. Gregory was on hand to meet with suppliers.